EXTENSIVE action is set to be taken by police after a woman and her autistic son said they had been terrorised by a gang of youths and are too scared to stay in their own home.

The Barrow-upon-Soar mum says that youths have urinated in their garden and that there have been successive nights of disturbance and anti-social behaviour, sometimes until 5am the next day.

Now police say they are going to increase patrols and install CCTV.

They are also ensuring street lighting remains switched on until much later at night.

The mum said that her teenage son, who has autism and ADHD, has been prevented from getting out of his taxi from school as youths used intimidating behaviour to stop the car on numerous occasions over the past few months.

She contacted the Echo and said that the pair, were forced on two occasions to spend a weekend in a hotel because they didn’t feel safe.

The resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I am frightened to death to stay in my own home, and I just don’t know what to do anymore.

“We can’t even sell the house because I am scared of what they will do when we have viewings.

“I just wonder what on earth their parents think they must be doing at 5am in the morning.

“What they are doing is having a shattering effect on myself and my son, and they are ruining our lives.”

The mum said that she was forced to install her own CCTV after she believed that the gang had tried to break into her property during the night.

A spokesperson for Leicestershire Police said: “Measures are in place to resolve the issues raised with us, including increased patrols by officers, checks of the street, visiting residents, meeting with young people and their families, installing CCTV and ensuring street lighting remains switched on until much later, but most importantly, we are speaking to the resident concerned to reassure her.

“We are aware of the detrimental effect anti-social behaviour can have on families and communities, and we are working hard to tackle the behaviour reported to us.”

The resident’s son attends a special school and the headteacher said: “It is disgusting and I have been astonished by what I have been told.

“I have seen the frightening effect it has had on our student, and they have had meltdowns because of this behaviour.

“I will be contacting schools of those who we believe are involved and trying to make sure something is done.”